Can Silver Pieces Be Put in the Dishwasher?

Handwashing

• Those who wash silver by hand point out that soap and water have kept it in good condition for centuries. Gentle scrubbing maintains the patina, or glowing surface that silver develops as it ages. Handwashing may be time consuming but does as little damage to the surface of silver as possible. Frequent use, not hard cleaning, is the best way to keep silver shining.

Machine Washing

• The argument for machine washing is based on concerns for cleanliness along with time considerations. Handwashing may not remove grease or other substances that contribute to tarnish, especially from beaded edges or other intricate pattern details. Removing tarnish requires abrasive polishing. Further, adding the time needed for handwashing may mean silver gets used less often than if it can be tucked into the dishwasher at the end of a meal. Those who favor using the dishwasher would agree with handwashers that frequent use is the best way to keep silver shining.

General Cautions for Dishwashing Silver

• Even those who favor using the dishwasher to clean silver acknowledge that the technology is not perfect. The main danger is spotting or darkening due to chemical reactions during the dishwashing process. Using less detergent than for an ordinary load and avoiding lemon scented or other enhanced detergents reduce the danger of spots on silver. Making sure that silver and stainless steel implements washed together do not touch each other lessens the possibility of darkening silver surfaces. The Society of American Silversmiths notes that mixing silver and stainless steel can lead to black spots on the steel and require refinishing of silver.

Precautions for Antique Silver

• Hollow-core silver items should be washed by hand, which is particularly true for the handles of old silver knives. The pitch and solder holding hollow-core handles to blades can be destroyed by dishwasher detergent and temperatures, blowing knives apart. Newer knife assembly methods mean that modern silver knives can be washed without this concern. Older silver or copies of antique patterns may involve factory-applied black enhancement of relief which can be washed away with repeated machine washing.

Precautions for Dishwashing New Silver

• Silver Queen raises a concern for brand-new silverware in the dishwasher. Copper compounds close to the surface of sterling silver may interact with droplets of water, leaving brownish stains on knife blades or other areas of utensils. Polishing usually removes both the stains and surface copper, but handwashing new silverware will prevent the problem entirely.

Tips for Hand- and Machine-washing Silver

• What owners value most about silver utensils, whatever their design, is the warm glow silver brings to the family table. Whatever cleaning method you choose, avoid doing anything that scratches silver surfaces or lets pieces scratch each other. Enjoy the glow, and use your silver often.